Learn to face criticism: Supreme Court slams Jayalalithaa

The Supreme Court has once again slammed J Jayalalithaa and her government in Tamil Nadu over the rising instances of filing defamation cases to silence political opponents. “You are a public figure, learn to face criticism,” the Supreme Court told Jayalalithaa.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by Vijayakanth, the actor turned DMDK chief, he was challenging a defamation case filed against him by the Tamil Nadu government.

Judges raised concern and said that “Tamil Nadu is the only state which misuses state machinery to fight defamation cases.”

The court was informed by the state government that more than 200 defamation cases have been filed by it in the last five years. 55 cases are against the media, 85 involve Ms Jayalalithaa’s main rival, the DMK.

Captain Vijayakanth is facing as much as 28 defamation cases for comments that were critical of Ms Jayalalithaa and her government. In addition to accusing her administration of corruption, he has blamed that the floods that wrecked Chennai in December were artificially caused and mishandled thoroughly by the government.

Actress turned Jayalalithaa, serving her sixth term as Chief Minister runs the political party with iron hand; her position in the party is undisputed.

While in government the state ministers fell at her feet in public stages. O Pannerselvam , who was serving as Chief Minister of the state when she was jailed for corruption, refused to use her office or the chair assigned to her in the legislature.